A report by the the nonprofit Governors Highway Association on Tuesday, June 25, found that the number of pedestrians killed by motor vehicles has increased over the past five years. In 2023, 7,318 pedestrians were killed in crashes, a 14% rise from 2019, according to the newly released findings.
The nonprofit blames Americans’ love of bigger vehicles, like SUVs and trucks, an uptick in speeding over the years, and lack of pedestrian-friendly roads and sidewalks. The association said that the problem was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, citing a decline in traffic enforcement as more speeding occurred among drivers, and an increase in alcohol use.
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In the first half of 2020, the study showed that pedestrian deaths jumped 20% from the previous year. That trend continued into 2021 and reached a 40-year high in 2022.
The study also shows that alcohol isn’t just a problem for drivers. In 2022, around 30% of deaths involved a pedestrian whose blood alcohol level was above the legal limit to drive, while 19% of deadly crashes involved a driver who had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.
However, the study did find that deaths among pedestrians killed by drivers dropped 5% in 2023 and so far, pedestrian deaths are down 3% in 2024.
The Governors Highway Safety Association said that the decrease in fatalities could be because of things like increased police presence, automatic enforcement tech and better road design that is friendlier to pedestrians.
However, the group said that there is much more work to be done.
The report recommends additional steps to keep pedestrians safe. Some of the proposals involve better street designs for pedestrians and enhanced enforcement of traffic laws by law enforcement.
Researchers said that pedestrians killed by drivers rose nearly 77% from 2010 to 2022.
Tags: Alcohol, COVID-19, Death, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Police, United States
[KARAH RUCKER]
A NEW REPORT REVEALS WALKING DOWN THE STREETS OF AMERICA HAS BECOME DEADLIER FOR PEDESTRIANS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
IN 2023, MORE THAN 7300 PEDESTRIANS WERE KILLED IN CRASHES– A 14% INCREASE FROM 2019, ACCORDING TO FINDINGS FROM THE GOVERNOR’S HIGHWAY SAFETY ASSOCIATION.
THE NONPROFIT PARTLY BLAMES AMERICANS LOVE OF BIGGER VEHICLES, AN UPTICK IN SPEEDING, AND LACK OF PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY ROADS.
THE ASSOCIATION SAID THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
CITING A DECLINE IN TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AS MORE SPEEDERS TOOK TO THE EMPTY ROADS AND ALCOHOL USE ROSE.
IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2020, PEDESTRIAN DEATHS JUMPED 20%.
THE TREND CONTINUED INTO 2021 AND REACHED A 40-YEAR HIGH IN 2022.
THE STUDY ALSO SHOWS ALCOHOL ISN’T JUST A PROBLEM FOR DRIVERS.
IN 2022, AROUND 30% OF DEATHS INVOLVED A PEDESTRIAN WHOSE BLOOD ALCOHOL WAS ABOVE THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR DRIVING– 19% INVOLVED A DRUNK DRIVER.
ONE POSITIVE FINDING, WALKERS KILLED BY DRIVERS DROPPED FIVE PERCENT LAST YEAR AND SO FAR THIS YEAR THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN THREE PERCENT.
GHSA SAYS THE DECREASE COULD BE DUE TO THINGS LIKE INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE, AUTOMATIC ENFORCEMENT TECH AND BETTER ROAD DESIGN– BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THE GROUP RECOMMENDS ADDITIONAL STEPS TO MAKE WALKERS SAFER.
LIKE MORE STREET DESIGNS WITH PEDESTRIANS IN MIND AND INCREASED ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC LAWS.
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